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Our Business Model

At From The Earth, we are often asked the question "Why are you here?" or "Why do you operate your business the way you do?" The answers to both these questions rests within a deep commitment to serve and treat our fellow man as we would like to be served and treated ourselves - with dignity, respect, and for the common good of all. Because of this, FTE is dedicated to the ideals of social entrepreneurship and fair trade business practices. These ideals are so important to us that they are written into our company’s core values.

Why Social Entrepreneurship?
We believe in innovative business practices that do not seek profit as the “bottom line” at the expense of individuals or the environment. Rather, our concern is to improve the overall social and economic status of our employees, producers, and the local community as a whole while operating an environmentally responsible business. Social entrepreneurship is characterized by ethical business standards, the payment of fair wages, providing safe working environments for employees along with a determination to solve, not create, social problems. We believe in being positive “change agents” for society by capitalizing on opportunities to improve existing systems, and by creating new approaches for production and marketing to help change lives for the better.

Why Fair Trade?Fair Trade is a business partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect which seeks to develop greater equality in international trade. We have chosen to adopt the fair trade practices of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). This manner of doing business goes beyond just offering fair prices for goods, but is designed to help benefit the world’s most marginalized people escape poverty. Fair Trade promotes sustainability by encouraging people to acquire new job skills, and by providing them a living income tied to sound business practices. We are proud to serve the local community by providing skills training and meaningful jobs to our employees in-keeping with WFTO standards.

How From The Earth complies with WFTO's 10 Standards of Fair Trade:1. Creating Opportunities for Economically Disadvantaged Producers
We support marginalized small producers, whether these are independent family businesses, or co-operatives.
2. Transparency and Accountability
We are truthful and straightforward in all of our management and commercial relations.
3. Trading Practices
We trade with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers, and we do not maximize profit at their expense.
4. Payment of Fair Prices
We pay prices for our products which are mutually agreed upon, thus providing fair reimbursement to our producers which can be sustained by the market.
5. Child and Forced Labor
We do not accept or market any items produced by child or forced labor.
6. Non Discrimination, Gender Equity and Freedom of Association
We do not discriminate in our hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, HIV/Aids status or age.
7. Working Conditions
We provide a safe and healthy working environment for our employees.

8. Capacity Building
We strive to develop marketable skills and capabilities of our employees.9. Promotion of Fair Trade
We provide our customers with information about ourselves, the products we market, and the artisans or organizations that make our products.
10. Environment
We give priority to buying products made from raw materials that originate from sustainably managed sources, and which have little or no impact upon the environment.